14a STUDIES OF NATURE. 



*' Others have theirs disfigured by fuperfluous ex- 

 " crefcences, fuch as the meaninglefs fpurs of the 

 *' hog, which, appended at the diftance of fome 

 *' inches from his feet, can be of no fervice to him 

 ** in walking. 



*' There are animals fcarcely capable of motion, 

 '* and which come into the World in a paralytic 

 *' flate, fuch as the floth or fluggard, who cannot 

 " make out fifty paces a day, and fcreams out la- 

 '* men tab) y as he goes. 



*' Our cabinets of Natural Hiflory are filled 

 *' with monflers ; bodies with two heads ; heads 

 *' with three eyes, flieep with fix feet, &c. which 

 " demonftrate that Nature ads at random, and 

 *' propofes to herfelf no determinate end, unlefs it 

 ** be that of combining all poflible forms : and, 

 " after all, this plan would denote an intention 

 ** which it*s monotony difavows. Our Painters 

 ** will always imagine many more beings than can 

 *' poffibly be created. Add to all this, the rage and 

 " fury which dcfolate every thing that breathes : 

 " the hawk devours the harmlefs dove in the face 

 *' of Heaven. 



** But the difcord which rages amons: animals 

 '* is nothing, compared to that which confumes 



*' the 



